Training unicycle with adjustable balancing supports



1960 M. E. PHILLIPS 2,950,127

TRAINING UNICYCLE WITH ADJUSTABLE BALANCING SUPPORTS Filed May 20, 1959 12 2/0312 Ewan;

I ATTORNEYS United States Patent TRAINING UNICYCLE WITH ADJUSTABLE BALANCING SUPPORTS Marjorie E. Phillips, 7128 Haverford Drive, Dallas, Tex.

Filed May 20, 1959, Ser. No. 814,466

2 Claims. (Cl. 280-304) The present invention relates to a unicycle particularly adapted for training users thereof.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a unicycle having adjustable balancing supports to maintain the equilibrium of the rider.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unicycle of the class described above in which the adjustable supports are removable to permit the unicycle to be used in the conventional manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a training unicycle in which the balancing wheels may be raised out of normal contact with the ground to a position where they will contact the ground should the user become unbalanced.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the invention; and

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral indicates generally a training unicycle constructed in accordance with the invention.

The unicycle 10 includes a frame 11 having an upstanding tubular post 12 integrally formed thereon. A pair of spaced parallel depending legs 13, 14 are rigidly mounted to the frame 11 in'depending relation thereto. A seat 15 has a post 16 telescopically mounted in the frame post 12 and releasably secured in vertically adjusted position therein by a clamp 17 mounted on the upper end of the post 12.

A rubber tired wheel 18 is positioned between the legs 13, 14 and has its hub 19 journalled in the lower ends of the legs 13, 14. Oppositely disposed cranks 20 are mounted on the hub 19 and carry foot pedals 21 on their outer ends. The above described construction comprises a unicycle capable of use in the conventional manner.

A balancing attachment, generally indicated at 22, is releasably secured to the legs 13, 14 and comprises a pair of spaced parallel arcuate frame members 23, 24 arranged in contacting relation with the legs 13, 14 intermediate the opposite ends thereof. The arcuate frame members 23, 24 are each provided with an outwardly and downwardly diverging rear standard 25 and an outwardly and downwardly diverging forward standard 26. A transverse horizontal bar 27 rigidly connects the lower ends of the standard 25 and a transverse horizontal bar 28 rigidly connects the lower ends of the standards 26. A horizontal transverse bar 29 connects the lower ends of the frame members 23, 24 and is arranged in parallel relation to the bar 28 at the forward ends of the frame members 23, 24. An inverted U-shaped connector 30 has its opposite ends connected to the bar 27 and has the bight portion thereof integrally connecting the rear ends of the frame members 23, 24. A castor 31 is journalled on the lower end of each of the standards 25, 26 to support the attachment 22 from the ground.

The legs 13, 14 have a plurality of vertically spaced bores 32 formed therein to receive bolts 33 extending through the mid-point of the frame members 23, 24.

Fatented Aug. 23, 1960 The frame members 23, 24 are each provided with a semi-circular shield 34 secured thereto by a plurality of fastening elements 35. A second bolt 36 extends through the center of the shield and assists .in securing the attachment 22 to the legs 13, 14.

In the use and operation of the invention, a beginning rider positions the attachment 22 so that the castors 31 have the bottoms thereof in the same plane with the bottom of the wheel 13 so that the seat 15 is supported in a position where it cannot tilt. With the attachment 22 in this position, the device is used until the trainee has acquired a certain amount of skill in manipulating the device. As skill is attained the attachment 22 is raised on the legs 13, 14 and secured with the castors 31 in a plane above the bottom of the wheel 18. With the attachment 22 in a raised position, the seat 15 is unsupported when in a balanced position but is limited in its tilting movement by the castors engaging the ground. With the attachment 22 in this position, the trainee acquires additional skill in the operation of the device until he is able to dispense entirely with the attachment 22 and ride the unicycle in the conventional manner.

It will be understood that the tire on the rubber tired wheel 18 is preferably an inflatable tire and that the castor 31 is a swivel castor since the ease with which the castor swivels enables the rider to continue his direction, when the weight is suddenly changed from the center wheel alone to any two of the castors in addition to the center wheel. It will also be understood that with this invention use can be made not merely to train the rider to ride a unicycle but also for purposes of fun, exercise, balance, rhythm, reducing, exercises, and others. Skill in manipulating the device, as used in this application, includes riding forwardly, backwards and making turns by turning the riders body and arms.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A training unicycle comprising a frame, a tubular post secured centrally of said frame and extending upwardly therefrom, a seat mounted for vertical adjustment in said tubular post, a pair of spaced apart parallel depending legs having their upper ends secured to said frame, a wheel journalled in the lower end of said legs and having oppositely disposed cranks mounted thereon, a framework secured to said legs, said framework comprising a pair of spaced apart parallel arcuate frame members, a pair of semi-circular shields secured to said frame members, a standard fixedly secured to the lower end of each of said frame members, and a castor wheel journalled on the lower end of each of said standards and spaced outwardly from said wheel journalled on said legs.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means securing said framework to said legs for vertical adjustment comprises bolts extending through said frame members and said shields engaging in a selected one of a plurality of bores in said legs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,535,090 Baumann Apr. 28, 1925 2,560,062 Ames July 10, 1951 2,630,332 Pettijohn Mar. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 641,324 France Apr. 14, 1928 477,817 Italy Aug. 4, 1950 

